Problematic Use of Social Media Platforms and Its Association With Depression in Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Objectives. The objective of this investigation is to examine the association between depression and problematic use of social media among university students with a focus on the differential effect of studying pharmacy as compared to other disciplines.Methods. A cross sectional study was conducted using an online survey that recruited students from different disciplines at one university. Problematic use of social media was measured using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Depression was assessed using the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).Results. Responses from 105 respondents out of 140 invited were analyzed. The average age of participants was 19.9 years (SD=2.1 years). Forty-seven participants (44.8%) reported depression. Depression was less prevalent in pharmacy students than in students of other disciplines (35.7% vs 62.9%, respectively). Social media addiction score (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01-1.12) and pharmacy discipline (OR: 0.2; 95%: 0.02-0.66) were identified as independent predictors of depression. The extent of problematic use of social media was similar between pharmacy and non-pharmacy students (49.8 and 52.7, respectively).Conclusion Studying pharmacy may have a differential effect on the association between problematic use of social media and the development of depression among undergraduate university students.